Sr. Academic Affairs Analyst, VC-Health Sciences - 140588

UC San Diego; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health Sciences seeks an experienced academic HR professional to review and advise on academic personnel actions, compensation, and policy interpretation. The role involves managing the review cycle for departments and providing expert guidance across UC policies.

Under minimal supervision, you will analyze complex issues, prepare executive-level summaries, and support adherence to Health Sciences compensation plans and related regulations in a dynamic, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Seven+ years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree in a related area and three years of relevant experience.
• Thorough knowledge of UC policies and procedures governing academic HR and higher education practices.
• Ability to analyze complex management issues and advise senior officials with independent decision-making.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills; strong communication across diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities under deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze academic personnel appointment and advancement files to ensure policy compliance.
• Advise faculty, departmental administrators and managers on issues of rank, leaves, benefits, and compensation.
• Manage the academic HR review cycle for assigned departments and coordinate with central offices.
• Translate complex academic data into actionable insights and executive summaries.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement compensation policies and improvements.

Skills

Project management

Policy interpretation

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Leadership

Higher education experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in related area

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 7/31/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Hybrid / Remote: This position will work a hybrid schedule which includes a combination of working both onsite in La Jolla and remote.

DESCRIPTION

UC San Diego Health Sciences is a Vice Chancellor area within the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The Health Sciences academic enterprise is comprised of the School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health. These three professional schools, with a combined operating budget of $2 billion, are responsible for fulfilling the teaching, research and clinical missions of UCSD.

The Vice Chancellor Health Sciences (VCHS) Academic Affairs & Academic Compensation units provide oversight and assistance for academic appointments and advancement, faculty compensation, and interpretation of UC policies. More specifically, the units are charged with the implementation of academic personnel policies for the UC system and UCSD, including the review and approval of academic recruitment, appointment, merits and promotion actions. The team provides advice and counsel of academic actions and policies, and is the primary liaison with core central offices on behalf of Health Sciences for academic affairs actions. The Academic Compensation team is responsible for oversight, education, maintenance and administration of the Health Sciences Faculty Compensation Plan (HSCP), as well as provides expert advice and policy interpretation in the areas of outside professional activities, audit & compliance of salary implementation, and the review and approval of Academic Programmatic Units (APUs). The office is committed to delivering expert, objective guidance to Health Sciences faculty, departments and schools in the advancement and retention of UC San Diego academic appointees.

Under minimal supervision, reviews and analyzes a wide variety of academic personnel appointment and advancement files, ensuring policy/procedure compliance. Manages academic personnel review cycle for assigned departments. Advises faculty, departmental administrators and departmental managers on issues involving academic rank and series concepts, leaves of absence/sabbaticals, benefits, retirement, multiple Health Sciences compensation plans, salary, and employee labor relations.

As a seasoned experienced professional with a comprehensive understanding of UC, campus, and unit academic practices, policies, and procedures, resolves moderate to complex academic HR-related issues affecting a broad range of academic titles in imaginative and practical ways.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Seven or more years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree in a related area and three years of relevant experience.

• Requires thorough knowledge of and ability to apply/interpret organization and college policies and procedures which govern academic HR. Demonstrated knowledge of the University's academic personnel program and related policies and procedures. Substantial experience working in a higher education environment. Knowledge of UC and UCOP governance, instructional and research programs. Understanding of campus organizational structures, departments and units, and communication channels. Knowledge of State, Federal and UC guidelines, rules and regulations concerning general academic employment and personnel issues.

• Ability to analyze complex management issues, develop project scope and solutions, give professional advice to senior officials, and make critical decisions regarding personnel. Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to set project objectives, determine and address potential barriers, identify required resources, identify process steps and milestones, and adjust action plans to achieve desired outcomes.

• Thorough knowledge of organization and college goals, priorities and values and the legal and human implications of decisions.

• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. Demonstrated outstanding writing and presentation skills. Ability to communicate clearly and accurately express substance and nuance in both written and oral communications. Ability to speak before large and small audiences with poise and confidence.

• Thorough knowledge of systemwide and organization policies, union contracts, procedures and practices that govern academic HR administration. Proven ability to understand and interpret, without guidance or supervision, complex general policy guidelines, making independent decisions and initiating action.

• Excellent critical and innovative thinking to address moderately complex issues and present nuanced analyses.

• Strong organizational skills to coordinate large volumes of work, establish priorities, and meet deadlines. Demonstrated experience in maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail under the pressure of deadlines, while working with constant interruptions

• Thorough knowledge of institutional data systems with an ability to conduct independent research. Demonstrated skills sufficient for the effective manipulation and analysis of quantitative data.

• Knowledge of trends in academia, especially in areas of academic planning, human resource management and administration.

• Ability to work in dynamic team environment demonstrating the unit Quality Standards: RESOURCEFULNESS: Ability to independently find quick and innovative ways to overcome challenges; RECEPTIVENESS: Demonstrates a willingness to listen, acknowledge, and apply feedback, knowledge, ideas and suggestions with an open mind; ACCURACY: Independently produces work and provides information that is consistently without error; and TIMELINESS: Delivers services in a time frame that meet or exceed expectation

• Understanding of consulting agreements and other corporate documents related to research and analysis of potential conflicts of interest.

• Skill in translating complex academic personnel and academic data into actionable insights, recommendations, and executive-level summaries

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Comfortable working with multiple systems simultaneously. Ability to use Word, Excel and Outlook computer programs. Case management experience a plus. Experience working in an accountability based environment. Knowledge, understanding, and proficiency in the management of the Health Sciences Compensation Plan, policies, and compensation structure.

• Knowledge of structured approaches to supporting organizational and process change (e.g., ADKAR) within HR and academic environments.

• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement principles as applied to academic personnel processes. Ability to analyze existing AP workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement optimized, scalable solutions.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of academic personnel information.
• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs. (Extra hours may be required during peak periods and vacation requests may be limited dependent on work load during the peak periods.)
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: Unclassified - No data available (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: Unclassified - No data available

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).